LIVESTREAM: Artificial Intelligence and Disability/Dependency:

In light of the rapidly developing COVID-19 outbreaks, Harvard University has restricted on-campus events. As a result, we will not be allowing in-person attendance at this event. Instead, the event will be available for viewing online. To ensure that you will receive access to the livestream and be kept up to date on any changes to the event, register now. We will send out a link to the livestream of the event to all registrants three days before the conference.

Hosting events, even ones that are largely virtual, is a constantly moving target these days and we appreciate your patience and flexibility as we fine tune our approach. In the meantime, we hope you all stay well.

Description

This event will highlight the challenges and opportunities in harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to serve the needs of individuals with disabilities and dependencies. AI can improve the lives of people with disabilities, such as smart devices supporting people with physical disabilities or sight loss.  On the other hand, AI outputs can also reflect discriminatory biases present in the underlying data used to develop the algorithms. While this “garbage in, garbage out” principle is well documented in respect to AI and gender or race, it is understudied in respect to disability or dependencies.

Interdisciplinary panels of legal scholars, ethicists, AI developers, medical and service providers, and advocates with disabilities/ dependencies will explore best practices and guidelines for stakeholders, guided by ethical principles, legal considerations, and the needs of people with disabilities/ dependencies. Participants will seek to articulate clear criteria for developers and medical providers looking to harness the potential of AI to serve individuals with disabilities/ dependencies, including those whose disabilities/ dependencies are the result of aging, injury, or disease, and the caregivers -- including both professionals and unpaid friends and families -- who support some of these individuals.

See Petrie Flom's website for more details.